Driv3r demo performance

[Unfocused]

In case you wondered where I have the demo from, it's somewhere on the korean Atari site. And I don't have any idea why on the official Driv3r site there is still the "soon PC demo" text.

I experienced choppy performance of the demo and I tested it on 800x600 and 640x480 with similar results. After turning off the sound there was no more laggy performance and I could play quite comfortably. My question is: do you think it's a weakness of the engine that causes it? Or something else? It's not normal for games to lose performance after turning the sound on, is it?

 

[B-MAn]

what are you sys specs by the way?

 

[Unfocused]

PIV 2,8Ghz (533FSB)
256MB RAM
Gigabyte Radeon 9550@about 9600Pro
Intel D845PESV mobo (with integrrated sound card)

I know I'm low on RAM, but it's not the case as some ppl with more RAM also happen to get great performance increase after turning their sound off. Besides sound doesn't take much RAM.

 

[Chris D]

May be something to do with your sound accelleration settings in Windows.

Try configuring them towards Performance to see if it helps.

 

[StardogChampion]

Try disabling EAX in the options or something.

 

[Lucid]

Nice video card...ouch.

 

[Unfocused]

Yeah, I found somewhere how to improve the performance, by messing with the performance/quality settings in windows.

But anyway, I didn't ask for help, my question actually was is it because of a engine weakness, or does sound have such a big impact on performance? I didn't notice that in other games, except Battlefield 1942.

Nice video card...ouch.

What do you mean? Never saw anyone having a video card below R9800? As a matter of fact many ppl still have GPU's lower than that (GF4Ti,MX series,GF5200XT) It performs better in HL2 than a GF5900XT, in DX9 mode (source: Anandtech).

 

[Dalamari]

What exactly happens in the Driv3r demo? can you just drive around the city or do you have a mission to do.

 

[Cole]

As a matter of fact many ppl still have GPU's lower than that (GF4Ti,MX series,GF5200XT) It performs better in HL2 than a GF5900XT, in DX9 mode (source: Anandtech).

Yes but the GF4TI and Mx series and the 5200XT will look alot worse.